And David gave to Solomon his son a description of the porch, and of the temple, and of the treasures, and of the upper floor, and of the inner chambers, and of the house for the mercy seat,
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן דָּוִ֣יד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בְנ֡וֹ אֶת־תַּבְנִ֣ית הָאוּלָם֩ וְֽאֶת־בָּ֨תָּ֜יו וְגַנְזַכָּ֧יו וַעֲלִיֹּתָ֛יו וַחֲדָרָ֥יו הַפְּנִימִ֖ים וּבֵ֥ית הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In that moment, as someone who was inexperienced and unaware, he provided him with a blueprint and specifications for this structure. As it is stated, ‘David gave unto Solomon his son the outline of the temple, and of its houses, and of its mosquitoes, and of its upper rooms, and of its inner rooms, and of its storehouses, and of the house of purification.’
The previously mentioned height of thirty cubits reached the second level, from which an additional thirty cubits ascended to the third level. This level housed the vestibule that encircled the temple on the south, north, and east, as recorded by Josephus. Beyond that, there was another sixty cubits extending to the top of the temple roof. According to the Book of Chronicles, the total height of the temple structure was one hundred and twenty cubits. The vestibule that faced the temple from the east was also noted to be of the same height.
The vestibules around the temple, referred to in this text as treasuries and inner chambers, were part of a blueprint that David provided to Solomon, detailing the vestibule, various houses, storehouses, upper rooms, and inner chambers, including those outside the priests' court that surrounded the temple. He elaborated on the design for showers, the courts of the house of the Lord, all surrounding rooms, and the treasuries of God's house, as documented (1 Chron. 28:12).
The entire height of the temple, measuring one hundred and twenty cubits, corresponds to the mystery of the Holy Spirit's reception by the faithful Church in Jerusalem at the beginning, when those same individuals gathered following the Lord's suffering, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. The number fifteen, being the sum of seven and eight, sometimes symbolizes the life that now resides in the Sabbath rest of the souls of believers, a state that will reach perfection at the end of time through the resurrection of their incorruptible bodies. If the number fifteen is represented in a triangular form, counting all its components, it totals one hundred and twenty. Hence, the number one hundred and twenty signifies the immense joy of the elect in the afterlife; it completes the third level of the Lord’s house. Following the trials faced by the faithful, once their souls find repose in the life to come, the entire Church will achieve perfect happiness in the glory of the resurrection.
This sacrament also pertains to the event when the Lord, after rising from the dead and ascending into heaven, sent the Holy Spirit in the form of fiery tongues to numerous individuals, empowering them to praise in a unified language despite their diverse tongues, as they were bestowed with the ability to speak in various languages. Furthermore, the Church will be resurrected and ascend to heaven in incorruptible bodies, fully illuminated by the Holy Spirit's gift when, as promised by the prophet, God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28). In that moment, there will be complete unity among all tongues to proclaim the marvelous deeds of God, with everyone united in one purpose and one voice, glorifying the Divine majesty revealed to their sight.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS